President Biden? History says no

I read with interest Jules Witcover's recent column regarding Vice President Joe Biden ("Could Biden benefit from Clinton's handling of Benghazi?" May 14). He infers that the Benghzai scandal could cost Hillary Clinton the Democratic presidential nomination in 2016, paving the way for Mr. Biden to become his party's nominee.

If history is any guide, the chances of Mr. Biden being elected president in 2016 are rather remote. While quite a few sitting vice presidents have ascended to the high office upon the death of the president, George H.W. Bush was the only sitting vice president elected president in the 20th century. Similarly, Martin Van Buren was the only sitting vice president elected president in the 19th century.